Physical May Soon Include Counseling
A routine physical checkup in the 1990s could become something quite different from what you’re accustomed to. Doctors will probably be doing a lot less testing and a lot more talking about how to stay well.
Most periodic physical exams should be devoted to counseling and motivating patients to adopt more healthful life styles, advises a recent report by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a group of 20 independent physicians and health experts working under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The task force’s 300-page “Guide to Clinical Preventive Services” has unofficial support from the American Medical Assn., which must decide whether to adopt the report’s recommendations. If it does, doctors will be advising patients to:
Quit tobacco. Smoking contributes to one out of every six deaths in the United States. Doctors will try to get patients to agree to a specific “quit date” and may prescribe nicotine gum or other medication to help with withdrawal symptoms.
Use safety belts. Nearly 4 million people a year are in motor-vehicle accidents. They are the leading cause of death of people between the ages of 5 and 44. Expect to hear physicians quote this statistic: Wearing safety belts can prevent 40% to 60% of injuries and deaths.
Limit alcohol and don’t abuse drugs. More than 11 million Americans abuse or are dependent on alcohol and other drugs. If a problem is suspected, the procedure may include testing for signs of dependence and developing a treatment plan or suggesting a rehabilitation program.
Eat a proper diet. Poor nutrition and overeating play roles in coronary artery disease and stroke and in some cancers, all of which are among the leading causes of death in the United States. Doctors will counsel patients and may give them prescriptions for diet and exercise or refer them to dietitians or nutritionists.
Exercise. Inactivity is linked to coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes and osteoporosis. Doctors may design programs or refer patients to fitness centers and exercise specialists.
Be responsible in their sex practices. Each year, as many as 4 million people will acquire chlamydial infections, 2 million will contract gonorrhea, 500,000 will be infected with genital herpes and 35,000 will develop syphilis. Current estimates put the number of Americans already infected with the AIDS virus somewhere between 1 million and 1.5 million. Patients will be asked about their sexual habits, and people deemed to be at risk for contracting sexually transmitted diseases may be tested and receive further counseling.
